A team of researchers has developed an innovative method to block pain signals by targeting a specific receptor in nerves—paving the way for new medications that relieve pain without disrupting the natural inflammation needed for healing.
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Many people use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to treat headaches, arthritis, sprains, menstrual pain, and other types of pain.
NSAIDs work by blocking the COX-1 and COX-2 receptors, which are responsible for producing prostaglandins—compounds found in most body tissues that play a key role in generating inflammation and pain. While reducing inflammation eases pain, a certain level of inflammation is essential for fighting infection and promoting healing. As a result, NSAIDs not only relieve pain but also suppress necessary inflammation, potentially slowing recovery and causing side effects.
In this study, researchers at the New York Langone Pain Research Center focused on prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in Schwann cells, which are located in the peripheral nervous system—the network connecting the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body. Research indicates that Schwann cells play an important role in migraine pain.
The team found that PGE2 acts through four different receptors. Among them, the EP2 receptor specifically drives pain signaling, while the EP4 receptor affects inflammation. Based on this discovery, the researchers used experimental drugs in mice to selectively target the EP2 receptor, successfully reducing pain without disrupting inflammation.
Pierre Angelo Geppetti, the study’s lead author and associate professor at the New York Pain Research Center, explained: “Inflammation helps the body repair tissues and restore normal functions. Completely blocking it with NSAIDs may slow healing and bring the pain back. Our goal was to separate the pain mechanism from the inflammation mechanism—and that’s what we achieved.”
The results showed that blocking the EP2 receptor in Schwann cells eliminated pain linked to prostaglandins while allowing natural inflammation to continue. This breakthrough could pave the way for safer treatments for chronic pain.
The researchers noted that this finding may reduce reliance on NSAIDs, whose long-term side effects are linked to gastrointestinal and kidney problems.
Geppetti further explained that lowering prostaglandin levels across the board weakens the protective mucous lining of the stomach, making it more vulnerable to acid damage, and also reduces blood flow to the digestive tract and kidneys, impairing their function.
The specific drugs used in the study and their potential release date for public use have not yet been disclosed. However, the researchers believe that selective EP2 receptor inhibitors hold strong promise for treating chronic pain, especially in topical applications.
Source: Daily Mail
